Ok Wisconsin RN's, here's the question of the day. I've been doing my homework and I've found that St Marys in Madison starts their new nurses at $29.77/hour. Is this the best starting rate I'm going to find? My hubby and I and our children (ages 2&3) are moving when I'm done with school and we are trying to determine where in Wisconsin to go. Anyone have any input on starting wages around the state or why you like the facility you work for/the city you live in? Thanks much!!
em7008019 25 Posts Specializes in Ophthalmology. Feb 16, 2009 This is the best you are going to find. Madison on average is a good $5/hr higher than anywhere else in the state and in some areas almost $10/hr higher. The down fall is there are very few nursing jobs available in the Madison area. The lowest pay I have found so far is the Fox Valley which is just under $21/hr. The Milwaukee area runs between $23 - $25. I don't know much about Western WI or Northern WI. These are hospital wages in general clinics pay less than hospitals no matter where you look. I've heard in the Fox Valley nursing homes pay better than the hospitals and nursing homes are about the only places in the Fox Valley hiring new grads right now.
rn2bnwi, BSN, RN 295 Posts Feb 16, 2009 the cost of living in madison really downplays the wage imho, i live in Madison and love it , but its very hard to get a job in most fields because lots of people want to live here and the education levels of my fellow madcity residents is amazing. Its normal for people to have more than one degree and we often joke about the fact that all of the people we know personally that are coffee baristas have master degrees. I would say that its easier to get a nursing job in Madison than in other fields but its still extremely comp.
jjensen 149 Posts Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds. Feb 25, 2009 I live in Wausau and make $25.25 an hour... I have been a RN for 10 years and by far make more than the new grads... Good luck...
BookwormRN 313 Posts Specializes in Med/Surg. Mar 3, 2009 I live in Wausau and make $25.25 an hour... I have been a RN for 10 years and by far make more than the new grads... Good luck...Wow-I've been an RN for 2 years and make three dollars more than that....in a smaller facility to the north of Wausau!
javawren_23 46 Posts Mar 3, 2009 Can I ask where you are? I live in Rhinelander and there's not much north of Wausau!
Dalla 157 Posts Specializes in Rehab/LTC. Has 2 years experience. Mar 14, 2009 I am in Dec. 2008 grad looking in the Wausau area. Wages seem to be in the $21-23 /hr range.If you can get hired now!
BookwormRN 313 Posts Specializes in Med/Surg. Mar 19, 2009 Can I ask where you are? I live in Rhinelander and there's not much north of Wausau!Antigo-
